Venezuela's 12-month inflation tops 62 pct in June - report

CARACAS, July 15 (Reuters) - Venezuelan consumer prices rose
62.1 percent in the 12 months ending in June, a newspaper
reported on Tuesday, boosting pressure on President Nicolas
Maduro to control inflation.

That figure would be the highest since the OPEC nation
revamped its methodology for calculating consumer prices in
2008, accelerating from the 60.9 percent inflation figure
reported by the central bank for the month of May.

Inflation for a given month is supposed to be published
within the first 10 days of the following month.

The central bank since last year has routinely delayed the
release of the figures, spurring criticism that Maduro's
government is trying to conceal negative economic data.

Maduro, who is facing criticism over rising prices and
chronic product shortages, has blamed inflation on three months
of often violent opposition protests earlier this year that at
times blocked roads and forced shops to close early.
(Reporting by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Jonathan Oatis)